Tom McAllister

I realize this novel likely isn't everyone's cup of tea, but something about it really spoke to me. Centered around a school shooting in a small town, much of the book is narrated by Anna, an English teacher who was fired just days before her students and coworkers were gunned down. In the aftermath, she is first suspected of involvement with the shooting, then cleared but still tormented by the guilt and trauma of seeing people she's known much of her life murdered. Moreover, Anna wants to be safe, in a world that feels increasingly violent and uncertain. There are pieces of Anna's struggle that I guess I could relate to almost too much and other pieces that feel representative of society, all of which make for a thought-provoking book. Overall, this is a really interesting book, but be forewarned about the subject matter.… (meer)